A New Paradigm for Clinical Diagnostics
Novascope is redefining in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) by uniting two historically separate disciplines: semiconductor engineering and biochemistry. The integration of semiconductor technology and biochemical expertise allows our platform to achieve high-density multiplexing, intrinsic on-chip controls, and exceptional signal fidelity.
End-to-End Solutions: Where Biochemistry Meets Semiconductors
Detection based on the change of electric charge distribution at the NovaCHIP™ surface after analyte binding
Platform
NovaCHIP™In-House ASIC Design
3 chip series (NS01/NS02/NS03) across 6 generations. UMC foundry, 0.18μm CMOS. Billions of probe sensors per biochip. 100% proprietary silicon IP — zero external IP, zero royalties.
NovaLINK™Patented Surface Chemistry
Probes embedded directly within engineered chip surface coating. Dual function: specificity (probe binding) and antifouling (rejecting ~7,000 blood proteins). Core trade secret.
NovaBIO™Proprietary Bio-Probes
In-house microfluidics buffer system. ZNA probes for minimal electrical interference. VHH nanobodies (~15 kDa) and IgG mAbs (CHO-expressed). 10+ antibody families from animal to IHC validation.
NovaKIT™Analyzer & Cartridge
~200-component reader with in-house firmware, touch panel, barcode scanner, motion control. 300×200×250mm, 3–4 kg. Hospital compliance: patient ID, sample tracking, kit lot management.
NovaAI™Signal Intelligence
Proprietary signal-to-noise algorithms at femtogram sensitivity. Binding curve dynamics, systematic noise subtraction, chip-to-chip compensation. Smart manufacturing QC.
NovaCRO™Clinical Biobank & Lab
~100K bacterial isolates from CGMH (linked to clinical data). 394 species characterized. PET-validated AD samples. WGS library under construction. Certified contract lab.
Semiconductor DNA
First-in-class bio-fabless design house. Inspired by the fabless semiconductor paradigm, we develop and own 100% of our silicon IP.
Semiconductor IC Design Model Applied to IVD
As a direct customer of UMC, a leading semiconductor foundry in Taiwan, we maintain the flexibility to rapidly iterate chip designs while leveraging the cost advantages of mature-node manufacturing on 8-inch wafers. Our analogue ASIC is built on extended-gate FET (EG-FET) architecture and purpose-designed for ultra-sensitive biomarker detection.
100% Silicon IP Built from Ground Up
Different from many IC design houses that rely heavily on standard IP blocks and automated EDA tool flows, we have developed our own silicon IP. Our core sensing architecture, layout strategy, and signal chain design are proprietary. This allows us to preserve both performance differentiation and capture full economic value.
Unprecedented detection density: Approximately 2.4 billion probe sensor sites per biochip, 300M per sensing block (0.5 mm²), 4M per sensing unit (6 μm²). Manufactured at UMC on 0.18μm CMOS.
Chip Portfolio
Six successful chip generations. Each manufactured at UMC in production lots of 25 wafers (~50K chips).
FET-Based Biosensing with Intrinsic Control
Field-effect transistor biosensing architecture for surface-charge detection of up to eight target molecules. 3×3 mm die, approximately 2.4 billion probe sensor sites. All current pipeline products built on NS01C.
Array Sensor for High-Throughput
High-density array configuration for scalable multiplexing. Suited for pathogen panels and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiling across multiple genetic markers.
Photoelectric Hybrid Detection
Complementary photoelectric sensing module for hybrid detection strategies. Enables optical-electronic integration for expanded assay flexibility.
Full-Stack Biochemistry
Programmable, scalable and vertically integrated biochemistry — built into silicon.
NovaBIO™ — Microfluidics & Buffer System
Our microfluidics-based, fast-tracked sample and buffer system streamlines sample preparation and stabilizes complex biological inputs. By optimizing fluid dynamics at the microscale, NovaBIO™ ensures controlled analyte transport, efficient reaction kinetics, and minimized sample loss. Critical for time-sensitive conditions such as sepsis.
NovaLINK™ — Patented Surface Chemistry
Our proprietary chemistry platform, where probes are embedded directly within the engineered surface coating of the NovaChip™. Unlike conventional assays that rely on secondary labeling or optical amplification, NovaLINK™ integrates specificity at the material level. Our chemistry is not added on — it is built within.
High-Purity Antibodies: Engineered for Precision
Off-the-shelf antibodies often lack the purity required for our ultra-sensitive biochips. We designed and manufactured our own proprietary antibodies as bioprobes — tailored for exceptional specificity and stability.
Nosocomial Pathogen Strain Bank & WGS Library
In collaboration with Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. 700+ bacterial isolates accumulated over nearly 30 years. 206 isolates ready for whole-genome sequencing (WGS); 494 prepared for DNA extraction.
The BioFET Advantage: From Probes to Processors
A simple and seamless diagnostic workflow engineered for simplicity. Each step — from semiconductor fabrication to real-time results — minimizes complexity while maximizing performance.
Bare Chip
Precision fabricated at UMC. Rigorous electrical testing.
Functional Biochip
Proprietary bioprobe design and surface coating.
Apply Sample
Any molecule carrying electric charges.
Bio-Sensing
FET detects charge redistribution at chip surface.
Signal Reading
Real-time digital readout, clinically native.
AI Analytics
AI-powered clinical decision support.
Complete sample-to-answer workflow: ~60 minutes for sepsis pathogen identification
Prototype Products
Ready for clinical validation and pilot manufacturing
NS01 BioChip Die
CMOS FET biosensor at UMC
Sample Preparation
Microfluidics-based handling
Disposable Cartridge
Single-use NovaCHIP™ cartridge
Portable Reader
Compact POC reader
Automated BioChip Platform System
A flexible, validated BioChip workflow ready for real-world clinical integration. Complete IVD instrument designed in-house with ~200 components including touch panel, barcode scanner, motion control, and custom sensor PCB supporting 1–8 chips per run.
Intellectual Property
A walled garden built on intellectual property. From chip to chemistry: fully protected.
40+ Patents Filed Worldwide
IP spans chip architecture, sensing circuitry, surface chemistry, reagent systems, and integrated diagnostic platforms.
End-to-End Ownership
We are building a vertically integrated BioIC ecosystem — from bioprobes, biochips, and test result readers to diagnostic devices. From chip architecture and surface chemistry to assay development, firmware, analytics, and clinical validation, every layer of the stack is designed to work seamlessly together.
Zero external silicon IP. Zero royalties. The cleanest IP table in the diagnostic semiconductor space.
FET-Based Biosensor Competitive Landscape
Competitor data compiled from publicly available sources, Q1 2026.
NanoDx
- Founded: 2010 / US
- Device: Silicon nanowire FET
- Challenge: Sensor reproducibility
- Production: In development
- Cost/Test: Not yet available
- Capital: $18M (Series C, 2020) / ~$34M total
Paragraf
- Founded: 2015 / UK
- Device: Monolayer graphene FET
- Challenge: Scalability, graphene uniformity
- Production: Pilot production
- Cost/Test: $143
- Capital: $55M (Series C, 2025) / ~$140M total
NOVASCOPE
- Founded: 2022 / US & Taiwan
- Device: Extended-gate FET (CMOS)
- Advantage: Standard CMOS, scalable
- Production: Pilot production (UMC)
- Target COGS: ~$10/test
- Capital: $22.5M (Series A+B)
Note: COGS ~$10/test is a projected target at production volume. Competitor data from publicly available sources.